Magic Kingdom (General Discussion)

[belloq87]

First Look Inside New Scene for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has given fans a first look inside the reimagined Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and an all-new scene!

blogmickey.com

 

[DOOMBOT]

Saw this effect for the first time the other day, and it really impressed me! I had no idea it existed at all, so seeing Ichabod's silhouette in the window reading his book, drinking some tea, then turning out the light, was such a great surprise! It's honestly a very small effect, which just made its' high-quality execution and inclusion even better.

It's this kind of small-scale addition that I would love to see utilized more all around WDW. Since non-Country Bear characters obviously can't roam without being swarmed, representing them in ways like this really helps sell that this is the home of Disney and the characters. Stuff like this give a good bit of extra life to the parks.

Walt Disney Imagineering Debuts First-Ever "Storytelling Window", Behind-the-Scenes Look

Walt Disney Imagineering shares a first-look at the debut of the first Storytelling Window featuring Ichabod Crane

blogmickey.com

 

[belloq87]

I wasn't aware that was a thing, but it's really cool!

 

[belloq87]

New Imagineering Permit Hints That Work Is Underway to Add Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic to Carousel of Progress

A new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering seems to suggest that work is underway to add Walt Disney to the Carousel of Progress

blogmickey.com

I'd love for this to be completed by my trip in November.

 

[belloq87]

New Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Construction Permit Extended Through Late Summer

Walt Disney World has filed a new permit for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, extending the work into Summer 2026

blogmickey.com

You'd think Disney would be doing everything possible to have Big Thunder back open for Spring Break, but that now seems unlikely.

 

[HandsomePete]

Great view showing why Disney projects cost so much:

 

[SkiBum]

Great view showing why Disney projects cost so much:

Was that the last piece and everyone was celebrating?

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I just want to point out that Disney is known to "package" an attraction's cost with other non-attraction related experiences. The cost of GOTG was paired with some of the other Epcot related work.

 

[HandsomePete]

Was that the last piece and everyone was celebrating?

Yeah I was being a little harsh. Just a little.

I just want to point out that Disney is known to "package" an attraction's cost with other non-attraction related experiences. The cost of GOTG was paired with some of the other Epcot related work.

The example here isn’t technically accurate - corporate doesn’t let them package separate projects into a single capital request, but demand-driving investments get “taxed” to fund a broader pool of non-demand-driving things that have to get built across property. And that “tax” is not insignificant.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

The example here isn’t technically accurate - corporate doesn’t let them package separate projects into a single capital request, but demand-driving investments get “taxed” to fund a broader pool of non-demand-driving things that have to get built across property. And that “tax” is not insignificant.

Referring more to the scenario of Disney (or an insider) saying that "$500M worth of projects/investment are in the work for Epcot" and then that comment eventually gets misaligned to being associated with the largest project solely.

 

[HandsomePete]

Referring more to the scenario of Disney (or an insider) saying that "$500M worth of projects/investment are in the work for Epcot" and then that comment eventually gets misaligned to being associated with the largest project solely.

I’ve not seen a scenario where the cost that people online associated with an attraction was actually the summation of multiple projects. Cosmic Rewind really was that much, with the caveat from my previous comment.

 

[belloq87]

BREAKING: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Reopen in Early May at Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has announced that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be reopening in early May at Magic Kingdom

blogmickey.com

BREAKING: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Reopening Date Announced

Walt Disney World has announced a reopening date for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom following a lengthy refurbishment

blogmickey.com

 

[OrlLover]

 

[Jake S]

Oh so that's what proper show lighting is supposed to look like on this attraction.

 

[belloq87]

Briefly skimmed through one of the new Buzz videos, and it looks like a very nice, welcome update. Some of the modern touches really help to bring it up a level or two (not into MIB territory, certainly, but closer than it was before).

 

[UNIrd]

Has anyone been on upgraded Buzz? How'd you like it? Excited to check it out on my next WDW trip.

 

[Alicia]

Has anyone been on upgraded Buzz? How'd you like it? Excited to check it out on my next WDW trip.

I actually don’t hate the ride now. Will ride more than never, which is how often I did before.

 

[Mad Dog]

I actually don’t hate the ride now. Will ride more than never, which is how often I did before.

It was just so so for us before. Like you, we'll give it a try. When we took the girls to WDW two years ago (they were 10 & 11 then), we thought they would like the ride. We were sooo wrong. They both gave it thumbs down, which only happened on a couple of rides at WDW. And they were both big Toy Story fans at the time. They loved Slinky and Midway Mania.

 

[Alicia]

It was just so so for us before. Like you, we'll give it a try. When we took the girls to WDW two years ago (they were 10 & 11 then), we thought they would like the ride. We were sooo wrong. They both gave it thumbs down, which only happened on a couple of rides at WDW. And they were both big Toy Story fans at the time. They loved Slinky and Midway Mania.

I’m still not a fan of the spin joystick, but at least you can aim anywhere without the gun mounted to a car you can’t control well. Huge improvement.